REHAB Old Oil Rigs into Artificial Reefs instead of Blowing them up!
- by: Terri Ybarbo
- recipient: President Obama
Thousands of red snapper are being killed each year in the Gulf of Mexico, and the U.S. government is the responsible party, according to a report by Local 15/WPMI-TV in Mobile, Alabama. Undercover video shows oil rigs being blown up and thousands of red snapper and other marine life being killed as a result of a federal mandate that dictates old, abandoned oil and gas rigs in the gulf be removed.
Undercover video obtained by Local 15 shows a recent demolition and thousands of pounds of dead fish floating on the water. It was shown to marine scientist Dr. Bob Shipp.
"Good Lord," Shipp told Local 15. "As a scientist, I think it's abominable. ...
"It's a double whammy. Not only are we killing a lot of snapper, but we're also destroying their habitat."
When oil rigs are built, marine ecosystems become established under the surface around the base of the rig. They become artificial reefs, so demolishing them destroys fish and other marine life, as well as their habitat.
Critics are fuming because the government has been trying to protect red snapper by shortening the season and lowering the quotas, but then it kills the fish it's trying to protect by blowing up oil rigs.
"They tell us not to fish [for red snapper], but they're blowing them up," charter boat captain Jason Domange told Local 15. "It's a crying shame."
A source told Local 15 that the video shows an estimated 10,000 pounds of fish, mostly red snapper, being killed in that one demolition. Local 15 reports that demolitions are frequent, sometimes three in a week.
Local 15 said efforts are being made on Capitol Hill to end these demolitions, and one can only hope it happens soon.
PLEASE HELP ME ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THE FEDERAL MANDATE, and instead leave these abandoned oil rigs in place - with their natural marine life that call them home and consider them to be artificial reefs.
The artificial reefs will encourage the local marine life to thrive, and will not damage the already fragile eco-system already in place. In addition, they encourage tourism by providing a wonderful place to divers to explore and discover and photograph, as well as attract local fishermen (who already know the oil rigs are some of the best places to fish!!!) and sports fishermen visiting the area.
Thank you for Your Support.
Dear President Obama,
Please help us to make a positive change in the Gulf of Mexico.
The federally mandated law requiring that old oil rigs be blown up is outdated and needs to be changed.
For years, research has shown that the oil rigs become artificial reefs - while in use and after they are shut down - and that marine life thrives around these rigs.
All the local fisherman know this and they LOVE to fish around the rigs.
Local divers also enjoy diving around the rigs due to the abundance of marine life and the natural beauty created by the artificial reefs.
When the rigs are exploded, as federally mandated, all the mrine life in the area is killed - and some of that marine life is actually protected by federal and local laws.
We need to catch up to the 21st century and change antiquated laws that originally were created to protect, but that now prove to be damaging.
Thank you so very much for your time and thoughtful consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Terri Ybarbo and Others who Support my Position
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